THE RAATZ ROUNDUP
Submitted for use on July 15, 2025
Word Count: 248
Recently, constituents have reached out to members of our caucus after hearing a new law I supported, Senate Enrolled Act 482, will affect a parent's ability to get their child an excused absence from school. I want to assure everyone this is incorrect.
SEA 482 aims to decrease chronic absenteeism in Indiana schools by improving the data reported to the Indiana Department of Education regarding student absences. Previously, there was no uniform set of absence categories. SEA 482 creates a statewide reporting framework, along with a list of categories for different types of absences.
School districts still retain their flexibility to decide what counts as an excused or unexcused absence. The bill simply improves the current reporting system for absentee data so lawmakers can better understand why 1 in 5 Hoosier students miss 10% of school each year.
This law does not change when a student is counted absent, nor does it require schools to change their local attendance policies. The law also does not impose any consequences for excused absences, as some social media posts have wrongly claimed.
We will continue to improve our education system in Indiana. This law simply gives us better data so we can more adequately address the challenges Hoosier students face.
Constituents can reach out to me with any questions or concerns they may have by filling out a "Contact Me" form on the IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Raatz website or by phone at 800-382-9467. If you'd like to read more about this issue, visit IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/school-absence-reporting-sea-482-2025.
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State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) represents Senate District 27, which includes
Henry, Union and Wayne counties, and portions of Franklin County.
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